Dreams, Visions, and Futures (Part 2)

Sunbeam reappeared over the pavement near the human building, just as she had hoped.  However, she was a bit higher than she meant to be.  About 11 tail-lengths higher.  And upside down.

She started to fall as soon as she appeared, snapping her eyes open a letting out a small screech of terror.  Instinctually, she twisted her tail, flipping herself back over.  Seeing the edge of the roof of the building close by as she fell, Sunbeam extended her claws as far out as she could, barely managing to snag the gutter and let out another screech of pain as it felt like her claws were about to be ripped out.

And then she was stuck.  She was hanging by her claws, from the roof, the rest of her body hanging limp like a defeated Slugma.  Her claws hurt.  She had to get up onto the roof, or else risk injuring herself further.  She churned her hind paws uselessly, meeting only empty air.  "Come on, Sunbeam.  Pull yourself up!" she growled, trying not to wince, cry, or cry out in pain as she succeeded in pulling herself onto the roof.

Gritting her teeth, she inspected her injured claws.  She couldn't detract them all the way without her paws burning like Inferno's tail, and she could see a bit of blood beginning to form around the bases.  That couldn't be good.  She dug a Sitrus Berry out of Clover's leaf pouch, silently thanking the healer for being so intuitive and hoping that it would work.  Taking the berry in her jaws, she squeezed it slowly and let the juice fall onto her claws, swallowing the rest of the berry when she was done.  After a few seconds, the pain went away.  Perfect.

After silently congratulating herself on her quick thinking, Sunbeam stood back up and walked to the edge of the roof, using her newly healed claws to keep from sliding off of the slick tiles.  After a short hesitation, she jumped down, landing smoothly.  Much easier to land on her paws than her back or tail.

Sunbeam once again reminded herself to try and act like she belonged here, then stepped through the door as the next human exited, then immediately had to stop and stare.

It was beautiful.  Shelves filled the building, each one packed tightly with books.  Sunbeam loved books.  She had found one once as an Eevee when exploring with her siblings.  No one else had paid it much attention, but Sunbeam had loved it.  It told a story about the legends of Ho-Oh, Raikou, Entei, and Suicune.  And now here were so many books in one place!  Sunbeam didn't want to ever leave.  She wanted to read all of the books, front to back.  She shook her head and reprimanded herself.  She was here to find out about those Pokémon in her vision.

She walked around, scanning the shelves.  There were other humans with small, quiet Pokémon here, too, most reading one book or another.  Sunbeam spotted a friendly-looking Gardevoir and trotted over.  The tall Psychic Type turned to look at Sunbeam before she could say anything.  "Hello, there.  You must be new around here.  I don't recognize you."

Sunbeam smiled and remembered her manners.  "Sort of.  I'm passing through and I need some information."

The Gardevoir nodded.  "A library is a good place to find information.  What are you looking for in particular?"

"I need something to help me identify a kind of Pokémon I saw.  I'm not sure what it was."

The Embrace Pokémon crossed her arms, looking at Sunbeam thoughtfully.  "You're a wild Pokémon, aren't you?  All trainers have a Pokedex."  Sunbeam stammered, but the Gardevoir cut her off.  "Don't worry, I won't tell.  Even if I did, nearly all of the trainers in here wouldn't try to catch you.  They're kind people."

Sunbeam shrugged and followed her guide to one of the shelves.  "This is our informational section about Pokémon."  She ran a hand over to volumes, stopping at one and levitating it out onto a nearby table.  "Here we are.  This is our rental Pokedex.  Paper form.  Take all the time you need."

She started to walk away, but Sunbeam called her back.  "Wait.  Can you tell me how to use telekinesis so I can turn the pages without damaging them?  I just evolved recently."

The Gardevoir walked back towards her.  "It's very simple.  Just feel the object with your mind..." she said as she held a hand towards the book, lifting it up and angling it towards Sunbeam at a good reading angle, "...and move it how you want to."  She opened the cover, gesturing for Sunbeam to take the book from her.

It didn't require nearly as much focus as teleporting had.  In fact, it came somewhat easily to her.  Maybe because Espeon was so good at it.  Snow had told Sunbeam that she had seen her mother scramble and open two locks at one without even looking at them.  Sunbeam didn't think she'd ever be THAT good, but she hoped she had enough mental motor skills to telekinetically work this book.  She thanked the Gardevoir and focused on the book.

It took her a few tries to keep holding the book while focusing on the pictures and trying to match it to her vision, but after a small number of the book banging loudly on the table and a large number of times where she barely caught it before that happened, she got the hang of it.  It took a lot of focus, but she managed.  "Ok...  I know the Mightyenas..."  She paged through the thick volume, trying to resist the temptation of reading each article on each Pokémon as she went.  he recognized a few Pokémon that were in the cage with her mother, but she doubted that it would be much help.  She had to be quick.

Finally, she found one.  "Aha!  White fur, black arc.  That's it.  Absol..."  She read aloud.  "'Absol has the ability to foretell the coming of natural disasters. It lives in a harsh, rugged mountain environment. This Pokémon very rarely ventures down from the mountains.'  Well, there was evidently going to be one here...  Maybe one of the bad humans owns one."  She quickly scanned the rest of the page.  "Drat."  It's a Dark Type.  Well, she'd leap that stream when she got to it. 

Remembering the burns that her mother had, she flipped to the index and reverse looked up the Houndoom that the human had mentioned, figuring it was a Fire Type.  She was right, Fire and Dark.  "'Long ago, people imagined its eerie howls to be the call of the grim reaper.  In a Houndoom pack, the one with its horns raked sharply toward the back serves a leadership role. These Pokémon choose their leader by fighting among themselves.'"  It went on to say that Houndoom burns are thought to hurt more than any other Fire Type's.  Her tail drooped.  Poor Espeon!  And yet, her mother was still sitting tall, despite the pain she must be in.

"Are you all right?" a voice behind Sunbeam asked suddenly, startling her so much that she dropped the book again with a loud bang!  She spun around to see the Gardevoir again.  "Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

Sunbeam shook her head.  "It's fine.  I should probably go anyway."  She telekinetically closed the book and shakily replaced it on the shelf. 

Gardevoir watched her before leaning closer and whispering into Sunbeam's ear.  "You know...  I couldn't help but overhear your reading.  I was curious, so I may have sneaked a peek at your vision.  Not very lady-like, I know, I apologize, but I have two things to tell you."  Sunbeam forced herself not to get upset that this Gardevoir had read her mind, nodding curiously instead.  "First...  That's a powerful vision.  Very few Psychics can use Future Sight that well."  She continued before Sunbeam could ask about Future Sight.  "And...  If you go to that building, try standing just behind it and to the left.  You should be able to telepathically communicate with your mother from there without being noticed."

"Really?  Thank you so much!" Sunbeam exclaimed quietly, jumping and bounding off of the table and racing for the door, opening it with her mind and a twinge of satisfaction.





 

Sunbeam stopped walking, glancing at the wall of the building behind her.  This was it.  If Gardevoir was right, this was where she's be able to contact her mother without getting into trouble.

 

Mother?  ...  Mother, can you hear me?

 

Sunbeam? came the quiet reply.  It was like Espeon was whispering, even telepathically.

 

Yes!  It's me!  I'm all right!

 

What happened?  Are you still waiting for me?

 

No, I'm going to save you!  I know Future Sight now, and I can get visions, and I teleported down from the roof of Bell Tower, and I can uses telekinesis, and I found a library, and oh, mother, I love the library, I want to read all of the books in there!

 

Her mother's voice stopped her, sounding tired.  Sunbeam, slow down.  You had a vision?  You know Future Sight?  How?

 

I climbed Bell Tower after we got separated.  I wanted to try and look for you.  I met a legendary Pokémon there named Cresselia!  Do you know of her?

 

I do.  She brings good dreams and visions.  I didn't know that she would be able to let you learn Future Sight ahead of your age!  She tried to sound happy, but Sunbeam could still hear pain in her thoughts.

 

I had a vision of how I would get you out, mother.  I don't know the finer details, but I know that you need to heal yourself and we need to switch places.

 

No.  You will not switch places with me.

 

Sunbeam was surprised at how strongly her mother was against this.  Didn't Espeon want them to escape?  Didn't they have to follow Sunbeam's vision to do that?  Mother, I have to.  Before you say no, I have a plan!  Please!  She could feel her mother's disapproval, but she said nothing.  Sunbeam continued.  You're more powerful than I am.  You need to call the police humans. and lead them to me.  I won't be able to convince them.

 

Espeon remained silent.  After a long time, she answered quietly.  ...I trust you, Sunbeam.  I don't want you to get hurt, but if this is the only way...  Do what you need to do.  I'll come to get you.

 

With that, their connection broke.  Now, how was she supposed to  get in...?  She hadn't thought this out.  She suddenly heard muffled shouts of outrage from inside the building.  Espeon must have made her move.  Should Sunbeam run, or stay put?

 

She felt eyes on her back.  Slowly turning around, she looked up to see a Pokémon on the roof of a nearby building.  An Absol.  It looked at her with unfeeling red eyes.  "Well, well, well.  Won't my master be pleased to see that he has not one Espeon, but two."

 

Sunbeam backed away, darting in between buildings to try and escape.  She knew it would lead to a battle eventually, but this was a predator.  Instinct told her to run.

 

Suddenly, the Absol dropped from the roof in front of her.  "You should learn to shield your telepathic conversations, Psychic."  Sunbeam swallowed nervously.  This Absol was big.  Bigger than the book had said they usually were.  At least twice her size, if not more.  "I might get rewarded handsomely for you."

 

Sunbeam took another subconscious step back, backing into a wall.  The Absol had backed her into a corner without her realizing it.  She was in trouble.  She tried to stall while she thought.  "...M-Might?"

 

The Absol tipped his head.  "The other possibility is that I get treated the same way I do every night.  Little food, no warm place to sleep, fighting the Houndoom pack for another scrap of meat we can find."  He looked her over.  "Or...  I could kill you myself.  Fresh meat," he hissed, displaying sharpened fangs.  "That would ensure me a good meal.  I'd be stronger."

Sunbeam extended her claws.  She was unable to speak, but that didn't mean she wouldn't fight her way out.  The Absol looked her claws haughtily.  "Come, now.  Don't put up a fight and I'll make it quick and painless."

Sunbeam tried to teleport away, but she couldn't focus with the Absol staring her down.  She thought of her siblings.  What would they say?  "You don't know how powerful I am," she tried, mimicking Two's small, confident smile.

The Absol only laughed.  "Oh, this'll be fun."

Ok, so threats didn't work.  She thought of little Five.  "Please don't hurt me.  There has to be something that I can do for you!"

"Hoping your mamma will save the day?"

"No!  I mean it!"

"What could you possibly have that I-" he stopped suddenly, his eyes fixed on Sunbeam's neck.  "That feather."

Sunbeam glanced down, seeing Cresselia's feather.  "This?  The legendary Cresselia gave this to me."

The Absol looked away, suddenly much less intimidating.  He looked... sad.  "So it's true."  Sunbeam said nothing.  After a few seconds, the Absol continued.  "The Houndooms give me nightmares wherever I sleep.  They despise me.  That feather prevents nightmares.  It only brings good dreams.  I haven't slept in days because of those dog Pokémon."

Sunbeam took a cautious step forwards.  "I'll give it to you if you take me to my mother and help me free her."

He glanced back at her.  "Too high a price.  I won't help you escape."

Sunbeam whisked her tail.  What else could she offer the Absol?  She wasn't sure if the feather was the cause of her vision, but she'd gladly give it up to save her and her mother's life either way.  She followed the Absol's gaze.  He was looking wistfully at a mountain in the distance.  She took a risk.  "You help me save my mother and both of us escape, and I'll give you both the feather and your freedom."

"My freedom?" he asked, turning back towards her.

Sunbeam nodded.  "We'll get you away from these awful humans.  You deserve to live free."  If he was attached to his trainer, she was dead for sure.

The Absol gave her a small smile.  "Deal.  You need to trade places with your mother.  I'll bring you back like I caught you.  I doubt anyone will be able to tell the difference."

"I have been told I look just like her."

"But...  In order for it to be convincing, I can't carry you in injury-free.  I need to rough you up a bit."  Before Sunbeam could get a word in edgewise, the Absol leapt at her.